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Wedge: Iwakuma, Perez also All-Star worthy

Wedge: Iwakuma, Perez also All-Star worthy

Iwakuma's nice outing 1:09

6/28/13: Hisashi Iwakuma strikes out five and gives up four earned runs over eight strong innings against the Cubs in a no-decision

By Greg Johns
/
MLB.com |

ARLINGTON -- Rosters for the 2013 All-Star Game will be announced Saturday by Major League Baseball, and Mariners manager Eric Wedge feels at least three pitchers from his squad are worthy of strong consideration.

Felix Hernandez figures to be selected to his fourth All-Star Game as he carried an 8-4 record and 2.70 ERA into Wednesday night's start against the Rangers, as well as a reputation as being one of the American League's premier starters.

Hisashi Iwakuma has also been frequently mentioned, given his strong first half. Iwakuma is 7-3 with a 2.42 ERA in 17 starts. He leads the AL in ERA as well as WHIP (0.88) and is fifth in opponent's batting average at .203.

"He's a deserving candidate, no doubt about it," Wedge said. "I think the way he and Felix have both pitched, they're deserving candidates and I think you have to throw Oliver Perez in there as well, just from a pitching standpoint. You just never know how that all plays out. But they're all candidates."

Perez has had a breakout year as a setup reliever, going 2-2 with a 1.47 ERA in 33 appearances with 14 walks and 43 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings.

The Mariners haven't had a position player in the All-Star Game since 2010, the last of Ichiro Suzuki's 10 consecutive appearances in the Midsummer Classic. Seattle sent three pitchers in 2011 -- Felix Hernandez, Michael Pineda and Brandon League -- and Hernandez was the team's lone representative last season.